April 3rd, 2025
On February 3, 2025, College Bridge had the honor of presenting our Central Valley Math Bridge project at the annual Dual Enrollment Convening, hosted by the Central Valley Higher Education Consortium (#CVHEC). It was an incredible opportunity to share how projects like Math Bridge are changing the educational landscape for students in the Central Valley.
A heartfelt thank you goes out to the Central Valley Higher Education Consortium for providing the platform to showcase our work. This event brought together passionate education professionals committed to fostering educational equity, and we were thrilled to be a part of it. The Math Bridge project aims to bridge gaps between high school and college, by bringing college level math classes to the high school campus.
Dr. Nicole Korgie, VP of Operations at College Bridge, took center stage to discuss the progress we’ve made with student recruitment and the overwhelmingly positive reception of our info sessions. She highlighted the success of our efforts, including the high percentages of students who expressed interest in the program. Dr. Korgie also emphasized the importance of collaboration between high schools and colleges, noting that partnerships like these are crucial for student success.
In her presentation, Dr. Korgie explained why the Math Bridge program works, stressing that the key to its success is not only student engagement but also the ongoing support and collaboration between educational institutions. This partnership model has been instrumental in helping students tackle the challenges they face in transitioning from high school to college.
Joining Dr. Korgie was Professor Rieg, a Math Professor from Merced College, who has played a critical role in the Math Bridge initiative. Professor Rieg co-teaches the Math Bridge class at Mariposa High School with her high school counterpart, Nathan Savig. In her portion of the presentation, Professor Rieg shared her firsthand experience with the program and detailed the effective teaching techniques that have made a difference in her students’ learning.
Professor Rieg also shed light on the broader challenges faced by college students in the region. She explained that many of her students at Merced College struggle with math during their first year because they are unprepared, often due to a lack of access to remediation courses, which are no longer available at the college level. This issue disproportionately affects adult learners who return to school after significant gaps in their education.
Professor Rieg shared a powerful insight into the real-world impact of these barriers:
“Some of my Merced College students are in their 40s, 50s, and even 60s, after having decided to change career trajectories. Many of them haven’t been in a math class in over 40 years and do not remember what they learned in high school. Because of this, math has become their most significant barrier to degree attainment. If Math Bridge had been around during their time in high school, then they could have already fulfilled their math requirements and eliminated a huge hurdle blocking them from progressing in college.”
Her words encapsulate why initiatives like Math Bridge are so vital for students across the Central Valley. The success of the Math Bridge program is not just about improving students’ math skills—it’s about empowering them to pursue their academic and career goals without the weight of unnecessary barriers. As Professor Rieg and Dr. Korgie both emphasized, it’s the collaboration between schools, colleges, and districts that makes this initiative successful. By working together, we’re not only preparing students for college but also ensuring they have the tools and support they need to thrive once they get there.
We’re incredibly grateful for the opportunity to share our work at the 2025 Dual Enrollment Convening, and we look forward to continuing to make strides toward educational equity in the Central Valley. Thank you to everyone who attended, and a special congratulations to Dr. Nicole Korgie and Professor Rieg for their invaluable contributions to the presentation. Together, we’re making a difference, one student at a time.
To learn more about how Math Bridge can make a difference in your school, visit us at https://college-bridge.org/math-bridge/ or send an inquiry to info@college-bridge.org. We would love to work with you!
